Swingable faucet



May 30, 1967 c. AECHTER SWINGABLE FAUCET 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Oct. 14, 1963 INVEWR (he/5m 5mm? 22/2 92% ATT RNEYS May 30, 1967 c. AECHT'ER: 3,322,152

SWING ABLE FAUCET Filed Oct. 14, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet ATTO NEIYzS United States Patent 3,322,152 SWINGABLE FAUCET Christian Aechter, Possenhofener Strasse 37, Starnberg, Germany Filed Oct. 14, 1963, Ser. No. 316,993 Claims priority, application Germany, Oct. 16, 1962, A 41,399 Claims. (Cl. 137625.41)

The present invention relates to swingable faucets, for alternately supplying water to two adjacent locations, such as a bath tub and a washing basin. The tub and the basin may have different water requirements which can both be satisfied by means of the inventive swingable faucet.

There are known water faucets which are installed on one of the sides of a washing basin so as to serve simultaneously for filling a bath tub located adjacent thereto. Such faucets permit a free flow cross-section of uniform size to be utilized over the whole swinging range. This cross-section must be of such a magnitude as to permit the tub to be filled within a reasonable time. However, such a cross-section presents the danger of the washing basin overflowing if the faucet is not turned off in time since, as it is well known, the drain openings of the basin cannot take in a relatively abundant water flow.

The drawback of devices of this kind thus consists in not taking into account the differential water requirements of a tub and a basin, or other different equipment. Conventional installations, therefore, represent a certain compromise in maximum throughflow which, on the one hand, results in an extremely slow filling up of a bath tub and, on the other hand, produces a water jet all too powerful for a washing basin.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a swingable faucet adapted to supply water for both a tub and a basin, or to any other adjacent locations where different water requirements exist (e.g., sink and washing machine). The faucet is to dispense two different water jets corresponding to the respective requirements.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a faucet of the described kind with a mixing chamber therein for allowing selectively and alternately to dispense hot and cold water in varying amounts and with varying temperature, according to the respective requirements of tub and basin.

It is another object of the invention to provide a faucet which is easy to manufacture, foolproof in operation, yet reliable and free from disturbances under prolonged periods of use.

According to one of the important features of the invention, the swingable faucet is made in the form of a stopcock faucet having a stationary member with a water inlet therein and a swingable faucet portion. The passages provided therebetween have different dimensions, allowing appropriate quantities of water to flow from the inlet portion toward the faucet, depending on whether it is swung to one or the other lateral position. In the median position, the flow is completely shut off. In a preferred embodiment, the water flow from the inventive faucet may be sealed also in both extreme positions of the swingable portion.

According to another characteristic feature of the inventive swingable faucet, the stationary stopcock portion may have two parallel inlet bores, for example, for-hot and cold water. A plurality of passages will allow either the hot or the cold water, or both, to flow in predetermined quantities and proportions, when the swingable faucet is moved over the tub or the basin, respectively. It is yet another important feature of the invention that the above-mentioned passages of the faucet structure have inner cross-sectionscorresponding to the respective "ice water requirements. Thus, the maximum lumen allowing water to flow in the position swung above the tub is substantially larger than that on the other side, when the faucet is swung above the basin.

The main advantages attendant with the novel faucet are the following. Only one swingable faucet is required instead of two separate faucets, e.g., for a bath tub and a washing basin, or the like apparatus, installed in closely adjacent relationship. The relatively complicated installation of one or more faucets on the wall above the tub may be dispensed with.

The most essential improvement over previously known faucets is, however, seen in the circumstance that the adjustment of the amount of water to be discharged from the faucet is a function of the purpose of useor, in other words, of the direction to which the faucet is swung (e.g., above the tub or the basin). The time required to fill up the basin will, therefore, be substantially the same as that required to fill up the basin, owing to the smaller lumen of the discharge passages for the latter purpose.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be appreciated and more fully understood with reference to the following detailed description, when considered with the accompanying drawings, wherein FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an arrangement wherein a bath tub is installed adjacent a washing basin, the latter being equipped with a swingable faucet according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-section of one embodiment of the novel swingable faucet shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a horizontal section through the faucet of FIG. 2 in its median or shut-off position;

FIG. 4 is a section similar to that of FIG. 3 but showing the faucet in one of the swung-out discharging positions;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross-section, somewhat similar to that of FIG. 2, of another embodiment of the novel swingable faucet;

FIG. 6 is a partial horizontal section through the faucet of FIG. 5 in one of the swung-out dicharging positions;

FIG. 7 is a section similar to that of FIG. 6 but showing the faucet in its median or shut-off position; and

FIG. 8 is another section similar to that of FIG. 6 but showing the same faucet in another swung-out discharging position wherein mixing of hot and cold water is achieved. 7

In the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a general arrangement, as a matter of example, of a bath tub 3 and a washing basin 4 installed in close proximity thereto. It will be understood that the illustrated arrangement is merely exemplary and that the two pieces of bathroom equipment may be arranged in back-to-back or aligned, straight-line manner. Also, washing machines, sinks, or any other water-consuming devices may be served by the inventive faucet. The faucet is generally designated 10 and is swingable about a stationary stopcock member 11, as shown by the two broken-line positions (one above the tub and the other above the basin). The swingable faucet can be utilized wherever there is a place on either the basin or the tub for installing the same from where both locations of water requirement can be reached.

FIGS. 2-4 illustrate a first embodiment of the inventive swingable faucet 10, comprising said stopcock 1'1 and a faucet portion 18 swingable therearound. The manner in which stopcock 11 and faucet portion 18 are interconnected is schematically shown in the drawings but not described here in detail.

Water inlet is provided in a conventional manner, from below and into a bore 12 of stopcock 11 (FIG. 3). At two spaced-apart locations, the wall of the stopcock 11 has apertures 14, 16 therein, these having different widths, as will be explained hereunder in more detail.

A spring-biased check member is shown'at 19, adapted to engage a recess 18a in the inner wall of the faucet portion 18. FIG. 3 shows a ball or the like member of the check means registering with the recess 18a, while in either of the laterally swung-out, tub or basin, positions (e.g. that of FIG. 4), the ball is urged against the inner Wall of the faucet portion 18, immobilizing thereby the faucet portion 18 against accidental movements.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that in the median position shown in FIG. 3 the bore of the faucet portion 18 is sealed off by a solid wall portion of the stopcock 11. As the portion \18 is turned in clockwise or counter-clockwise sense (the latter appearing in FIG. 4), the passages 16 and 14 will, respectively, be brought into communication with the bore of portion 18, allowing a corresponding amount of water to pass therethrough (as indicated by an arrow in FIG. 4).

According to the respective widths of the passages 14, 16, more or less water will pass in the counter-clockwise and clockwise faucet positions, as illustrated. FIG. 4 corresponds to the upper broken-line position of the faucet in FIG. 1, supplying a larger amount of water to the tub 3 than if it were turned to the lower position, toward the basin 4.

The stationary stopcock 11 represents a connecting member between the water mains and the swingable faucet 18, the latter preferably surrounding the former in the illustrated and described manner. However, the swingable faucet. portion could 'be rigidly connected with a casing lodging the stationary stopcock. Alternately, the faucet portion could also be linked to a movable valve member within a stationary valve member, one of said members being provided with passages or slits similar to those shown at 14, 16 for progressively and selective discharging predetermined water quantities through the facet, as the same is swung to one or the other direction. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2-4, the width of the larger passage 14 is substantially the same as that of the faucet-portion bore so that counter-clockwise movement of the portion 18 will gradually increase water discharge from zero up to maximum. The lumen of the other passage 16 will, of course, allow less water to pass therethrough even in its fully aligned position, that is, when thefaucet portion 18 is turned all the way, in clockwise direction, so as to be located above the washing basin.

It is possible to connect the stopcock with its movable member to the swingable discharge portion and thus to be moved simultaneously therewith. The movable stopcock member may have a rectangular opening communicating with the discharge portion and adapted to cooperate with inlet bores or apertures provided in the stopcock casing and having different widths according to the various swivel zones. A web may be left between the apertures of the stopcock casing which is to prevent the water from passing in a faucet position intermediate the tub and the basin supply positions. A similar construction is also possible in the extreme lateral positions of the discharge faucet.

FIGS. 5-8 represent a second embodiment of the invention, shown as a swingable faucet 20 which is provided with a mixing chamber e.g., for hot and cold water.

' A stationary stopcock 21 is provided with an internal web portion 21a separating inlet bores 22 and 23 which may be used for hot and for cold water, respectively. A swingable faucet portion 28 surrounds stopcock 29 and is adapted to cooperate with apertures 24, 26 in stopcock 21 being in communication with bore 22 and/or with similar apertures 25, 27 in communication with bore 23. Their function and the operation of the swingable faucet 20 will be described somewhat later hereunder.

A check member is shown at 29, adapted to engage a recess 28a in the inner wall of the faucet portion 28. Its action is the same as that of check means 19, 18a of the p jiqu embo n For further references, it may be useful to state that in the second embodiment, FIG. 5 is thecounterpart of FIG. 2 of the previously described first embodiment; FIG. 6 is similar in its operative result in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 corresponds to the illustration of FIG. 3.

munication with the bore of portion 28, allowing corresponding amounts of cold and hot water to pass therethrough (as indicated by arrows in FIGS. 6 and 8).

It will be clear from the illustrated various operative positions that the bore of portion 28, when moved from the sealed-off position of FIG. 7 toward the position shown in FIG. 8, will first allow some of the cold water to be discharged from bore 23 through passage 27. Upon having passed the wall segment of web 21a, the passage 26 will also be connected, supplying hot water from bore 22. By judicious radial adjustment of the faucet portion 28, first increasing and then decreasing'amounts of, first, cold and, then, hot water will be discharged. When the portion 28 is turned beyond the right-angle position from the median, sealed position, both passages will again be shut off. Thus, the inventive swingable faucet actually has three distinct closed positions, one at either extreme swungout position and one intermediate the two discrete open positions. I

When, on the other hand, portion 28 is movedcounterclockwise, that is from the position of FIG. 7 toward that of FIG. 6, first the passage 25 will be opened (cold water from bore 23), and then gradually passage 24 (hot water from bore 22). When both passages are connected, lukewarm water results.

Passages 24, 25 are somewhat'wider than the corresponding passages 26, 27 so that the tub position (FIG. 7

6, corresponding to the upper broken-line position of FIG. 1) will discharge a larger amount of water per unit of time than the basin position (FIG. 8, corresponding to the lower position of the faucet inFIG. 1). FIG. 6, as a matter of fact, illustrates a large amount of hot .wateralone being supplied, while FIG. 8 is illustrative of the faucet position wherein about equal, but limited amounts of hot and cold water are dispensed. It will be understood that the novel swingable faucet arrangement allowsa continuous and most efiicient regulation of the water supply, for either the tub or the sink, toward which it may be swung.

The foregoing disclosure relates only to preferred embodiment of the invention which is intended to include all changes and modifications of the examples described Within the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A swingable faucet adapted to supply liquids to two adjacent locations having different liquid requirements,

comprising a swingable faucet portion having a bore therethrough, adapted to discharge said liquids and,having a substantially median inoperative position and two lateral operative positions, stopcock means connectedbetween said faucet portion and a liquid inlet conduit, means for discharging a predetermined liquid quantity per unit of time when said faucet portion is moved to one of said lateral positions and another different liquid quantity when the same is moved to the other lateral position, and means for throttling the liquid flow when said faucet portion is in said median position, further comprising mixing means associated with said stopcock means for selectively supplying liquids from said inlet conduit and from another inlet conduit upon operation of said discharging means.

2. A swingable faucet according to claim 1, wherein said discharging means provides consecutive liquid supply from said inlet conduit, both inlet conduits, and from said another inlet conduit in at least one of said lateral positions. I

3. A swingable faucet adapted to supply liquids to two adjacent locations having different liquid requirements, comprising a swingable faucet portion having a bore therethrough, adapted to discharge said liquids and having a substantially median inoperative position and two lateral operative positions, stopcock means connected between said faucet portion and a liquid inlet conduit, means for discharging a predetermined liquid quantity per unit of time when said faucet portion is moved to one of said lateral positions and another different liquid quantity when the same is moved to the other lateral position, and means for throttling the liquid flow when said faucet portion is in said median position, wherein said stopcock means is a stationary member, said faucet portion having an annular end portion surrounding at least part of said stopcock means, the latter having in its wall two apertures provided in spaced-apart relationship, having different widths and being adapted to register with said bore of the faucet portion in the respective lateral positions thereof, wherein said stopcock means includes a substantially central web member providing two bores therein constituting mixing means, one of said bores being connected with said liquid inlet while the other bore is connected with another liquid inlet, said stopcock means having in its wall two additional apertures provided in spaced-apart relationship, having difierent widths and being adapted to register with said bore of the faucet portion in the respective lateral positions thereof.

4. A swingable faucet according to claim 3, wherein each of said bores of the stopcock means communicates with one of said apertures and with one of said additional apentures, said discharge means providing consecutive liquid supply from said additional aperture, both apertures, and from said aperture in both of said lateral positions.

5. A swingable faucet according to claim 4, wherein said aperture and said additional aperture operative in at least one of said lateral positions are located on either side of a peripheral limb of said web member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 79,190 6/1869 Benson 251352X 1,537,530 5/1925 Eassenson 251207 X 2,134,966 11/1938 Boscow et a1 137616 X 2,267,618 12/ 1941 Shapiro 4-2 2,701,704 2/1955 Lawrence 251-207 X 3,115,896 12/1963 Roberts et a1 251207 X 3,132,428 5/1964 Haissig et al. 251207 X FOREIGN PATENTS 521,853 4/ 1931 Germany.

M. CARY NELSON, Primary Examiner.

E. FEIN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SWINGABLE FAUCET ADAPTED TO SUPPLY LIQUIDS TO TWO ADJACENT LOCATIONS HAVING DIFFERENT LIQUID REQUIREMENTS, COMPRISING A SWINGABLE FAUCET PORTION HAVING A BORE THERETHROUGH, ADAPTED TO DISCHARGE SAID LIQUIDS AND HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY MEDIAN INOPERATIVE POSITION AND TWO LATERAL OPERATIVE POSITIONS, STOPCOCK MEANS CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID FAUCET PORTION AND A LIQUID INLET CONDUIT, MEANS FOR DISCHARGING A PREDETERMINED LIQUID QUANTITY PER UNIT OF TIME WHEN SAID FAUCET PORTION IS MOVED TO ONE OF SAID LATERAL POSITIONS AND ANOTHER DIFFERENT LIQUID QUANTITY WHEN THE SAME IS MOVED TO THE OTHER LATERAL POSITION, AND MEANS FOR THROTTLING THE LIQUID FLOW WHEN SAID FAUCET PORTION IS IN SAID MEDIAN POSITION, FURTHER COMPRISING MIXING MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID STOPCOCK MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY SUPPLYING LIQUIDS FROM SAID INLET CONDUIT AND FROM ANOTHER INLET CONDUIT UPON OPERATION OF SAID DISCHARGING MEANS, 